Moth Orchids
Moth Orchids are beautiful and very popular orchids with their stunning and long lasting flowers that come in a wide range of gorgeous colours.
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Coloured pots, textured pot covers and pom pom lined pots aren’t the only way to bring a burst of colour into your living areas. There is one species of plant that provides both style and eye-popping colour variations that will stand out in any room - stromanthes! With their upright deep green leaves (often variegated with whites and pinks) contrasted against the pink or burgundy coloured undersides, stromanthes (Stromanthe sanguinea) are true crowd pleasers. To bring out their true potential, plant them in a dark or white coloured pot to further accentuate their colours.
How to grow stromanthe in a pot
- Choose a pot at least twice the size of the existing root-ball of the plant. Position indoors in a bright spot, away from direct light.
- Partially fill chosen pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix.
- Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any encircled or entangled roots.
- Position in pot and backfill, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Water regularly, allowing the plant to slightly dry out between waterings. Mist the leaves regularly to increase humidity around the plant.
- Feed weekly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow stromanthe in a garden
- Choose a well drained, partly shaded spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any encircled or entangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
- Mulch lightly with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw and water in well.
- Water once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions to keep the soil lightly moist.
- Feed weekly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.
Growing tips
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Keep the leaves clean by wiping with a damp cloth.
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Plants can eventually become overcrowded in a pot. To give them more room to grow and help refresh the clump, you can divide and separate the plants (yay, more plants for you!). To do this, remove the plant from the pot and using a sharp clean knife, cut the plant into manageable sections.
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Stromanthe thrive in bathrooms as they love the humid environments.
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If your leaf colour starts to dull, try placing your plant in an area that receives a bit more light (ensuring its still filtered). The increased light can bring out the vivid colour in the leaves.
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Avoid overwatering as they don’t appreciate having wet feet.
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Our favourite Stromanthes include:
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Stromanthe sanguinea – with its upright deep green leaves and burgundy backing, this variety really pops in a light pot that shows off its true beauty!
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Stromanthe sanguinea ‘Tricolour’ – A highly sought after variety that will brighten up any room of the house. The deep green leaves are broken up with white or pink variegations, depending on the individual plant
Chain of Hearts
Chain of hearts is a gorgeous trailing plant that’s perfect for hanging pots or baskets. The chains can reach 4m long & the heart shaped leaves are sweet.
Bromeliad
For a feature plant in a shady or sheltered area in the garden or even for indoors, Bromeliads provide great foliage colour and form to the garden.
Air Plants
Air Plants literally live off the air & can be grown indoors, hanging from tree branches or balancing decoratively on intriguing objects.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix
To give your precious plants the perfect start, we've created the ideal ready-to-use NZ indoor plant potting mix.
Yates Thrive All Purpose Liquid Plant Food
A liquid plant food suitable for most types of plants and provides balanced feeding to promote stronger, healthier growth and greener foliage. Feeds through the leaves and roots for fast results.
Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food
Provides indoor plants with the balanced nutrition they need to produce stronger, healthier foliage and an abundance of vibrant flowers.
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